Hair curler including hair supporting and guiding means,and method of using same



A ril 21, 1910 V HAIR CURLER INCL G. c. GAXIOLA 3,507,291 UDI NG HSUPPORTING AND GUIDING MEANS ND MET OF USING SAME led March 7, 1968INVENTOR. GILBERT GAXIOLA United States Patent HAIR CURLER INCLUDINGHAIR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING MEANS, AND METHOD OF USING SAME Gilbert C.Gaxiola, 5691 E. Speedway, Tucson, Ariz. 85716 Filed Mar. 7, 1968, Ser.No. 711,377 Int. Cl. A45d 7/00, 2/14 U.S. Cl. 1327 5 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A hair setting and styling device, an elongated body ofgenerally tapered cylindrical configuration and curved to accommodatethe shape of the head to which it is applied. A plurality of pairs offingers fixed to and extending radially from the body, the pairs offingers being spaced apart axially of the body and being in alignment,and each finger of each pair of fingers comprising two circumferentiallyspaced apart projecting sections, the fingers being extended into thehair to be curled.

This invention relates broadly to the art of hair setting and stylingdevices, and in its more specific aspects it relates to such a deviceprovided with means projectible into the hair to be curled which meansinsures that the hair extends substantially vertically from the scap forexpediting the drying thereof in the desired position relative to thescalp, and the device is also of a character to prevent the usual voidsbetween individual curlers which results from conventional trulycylindrical hair setting devices; and the nature and objects of theinvention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled inthe arts to which it relates in the light of the following explanationand detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating whatI at present believe to be preferred embodiments or mechanicalexpressions of my invention from among various other forms,arrangements, combinations and constructions, of which the invention iscapable within the spirit and scope thereof.

Curling and setting devices of the general character in which I aminterested and which are now in widespread use are of generally truecylindrical configuration and a plurality of such curlers are insertedat the proper positions relative to the scalp of the hair to be woundthereon with the axis of each curler being generally parallel with aplane extending through the nose and the back of the head. The pluralityof such cylindrical curlers of the prior art are positioned about thehead or scalp in spaced relation and a section of hair to be curled iswound about each curler, and, of course, any suitable means may be usedfor clamping the wound section of hair about each curler while such'hair is-drying.

The use of these conventional curlers, in the manner briefly describedabove, results, when the hair is unwound from each curler, in a voidbetween each curl, and it is necessary to work on each curl in a waycommonly called teasing, or in other manners, so as to eliminate theseundesirable voids.

A further significant disadvantage in the conventional curlers andsetters which I have described, resides in the fact that the hair whichextends from the scalp and about each curler, extends from the scalp insubstantially tangential relation thereto, so that the time required forthe hair to dry is substantially lengthened.

It has been one of my prime objects to overcome the above mentioneddisadvantages, and others, which are inherent in conventional hairstyling and setting devices. In accomplishing this purpose, I haveprovided a hair setting and styling device which eliminates completelythe voids between curls, insures that the hair which extends from thescalp and about a curling device extends substantially vertically withrespect to the scalp so as to expedite the drying thereof. It will beappreciated that a device of the character which I have developed willobviate the necessity for teasing or doing any further sub stantial workon the curls in order to produce the desired hair styling effect. Thus,the use of my device will reduce the length of time now required forhair curling and styling and may well reduce the expense involved insuch operations.

Another characteristic of my invention resides in the fact that thenumber of curling devices required for curling and styling a head ofhair is reduced over the number now necessary and in general use.

My invention also embodies a unique structure which is adapted toenhance and facilitate the application of each device against the headand into operative position with respect to the hair.

I have also included a structure combined with my hair setting andstyling device which assures the maintenance of the device in properhair curling position.

The hair setting and styling device of this invention may be formed ofplastic, is economical to produce, easy to use, and under normal useconditions will last for a substantial length of time.

My invention involves generally an elongated tapered cylindrical bodyfrom which a plurality of fingers extend. In the use of the device thefingers are extended from, for instance, the forehead into the hair tobe curled, until the body is at the edge of the hair. The hair isbrought up between and over the tops of the fingers in a directiontoward and diagonally with respect to the body, and then is wound aboutthe body at substantially a 45 degree angle toward the narrow end of theelongated tapered body. The hair is wound on the body and is maintainedin position thereon by any suitable and conventional clamping or thelike means.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in View, aswell as certain others which will be apparent from the followingexplanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in design,construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will be morefully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating prior art conventionalcurlers in operative position curling the hair.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a prior art curler illustrating how the hair,which is wound therearound, extends substantially tangentially withrespect to the scalp.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of my hair setting and styling device.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the position of the hair setting andstyling device with the fingers thereof inserted into the hair to becurled, but prior to the winding of the hair over the tops of thefingers and about the body of the device.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, only illustrating the winding of thehair over the tops of the fingers and about the body of the device.

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation illustrating the curlers of FIGS.3-5 in operative position curling the hair at the front of the head andalso disclosing a right and left curler placed in proper curlingposition at the sides of the head.

In the accompanying drawings, and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, I haveillustrated a head of hair Wound on the conventional curlers and in themanner which is now commonly in use. In this figure I have designatedthe two top curlers by the reference numerals 1 and 5, and the two sidecurlers which are used on the left side of the head by the numerals 7and 9, and those used on the right side of the head by the numerals 11and 13. These curlers are customarily of true cylindrical configurationand operatively mounted with the hair wound therearound in the manner asdisclosed in FIG. 1 of the drawings. It will be seen that each curler ispositioned on the head in planes which are substantially parallel to aline extending from the nose to the rear of the head of the individualbeing operated upon. In this prior method of hair curling a section ofhair 15 is wound about each curler in the manner disclosed in FIG. 1 andis then clamped to the curler in any suitable and conventional manner.

FIG. 2 of the drawings is an end view in elevation of one of the curlerswith a section of hair 15 wound thereabout and it will be apparent fromthis view that in these prior art curlers and the method of their useand positioning on the head, the strands of hair which are wound aboutthe curler and which extend as at 17 substantially tangentially withrespect to the scalp 19, will be relatively slow in drying, which is, ofcourse, one of the several disadvantages in these prior artconstructions.

It is also a fact, as I shall point out hereinafter, that the strands ofhair 17 which extend tangentially from the scalp below each curlerproduce voids between each curl which must be worked on and manipulatedto produce the desired Wave.

As I have pointed out above, undesirable voids are formed in the hairand between the curlers when the conventional curlers, as illustrated inFIG. 1, are used. These voids, as will be explained in detailhereinafter, do not occur when my curling device and method are used.Consideration of FIG. 1 clearly illustrates that a void 21 will occurbetween the top curlers 1 and S, and this void, which is caused by acombination of the tangential extension of the hair relative to thescalp, and by the positioning of the curlers, must be worked andmanipulated out of the curls after removal of the curlers in order toeliminate the void in the final wave of the hair. It will further. beapparent that voids 23- and 24 will also be formed between the curlers 7and 9 and 11 and 13, respectively, and that these must be gotten rid ofby teasing and/or other working on the curls.

The hair setting and styling device of this invention comprises anelongated, tapered and curved body 25, which provides a styling surfaceand may be formed of plastic or any other suitable material which isdesigned particularly to withstand long usage. As will become clear asthis description proceeds the hair is wound on this body in the curlingoperation. Due to the end to end tapered formation of the body 25, suchbody has an enlarged end 27 and an opposite end 29 which is smaller ornarrower than the end 27. As will be apparent from the drawings, thetaper from the large end 27 to the small end 29 is constant and gradual.

Fixed to and extending radially from the body, or styling surface 25,are a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart pairs of hair supportingand guiding fingers, which I have designated in their entirely by thenumeral 31. The pairs of fingers are not only longitudinally spacedapart but are also longitudinally aligned, taking into consideration thecurvature of the body 2-5. Each pair of fingers 31 comprises twocircumferently spaced apart fingers 33, these spaced apart fingers 33being in circumferential alignment, and due to the circumferentialspacing thereof a free area 35 is provided between the fingers 33.Consideration, particularly of FIG. 3 of the drawings, discloses thatthe curvature of the elongated tapered body 25 provides a longitudinallyextending concavity or head engaging surface 37 in the body, and thatthe pairs of fingers 31 radially extend from the body 25 directlyadjacent to but circumferentially removed from the body concavity 37.

The body 25 is provided at its smaller end 29 with a notch 37' therein,and at its other end with a projecting lug or circumferentially groovedprotuberance 39. The purpose of the notch and protuberance will bedescribed hereinafter.

While in the drawings I have shown seven radially projecting pairs ofhair supporting fingers 31, it is to be understood that a greater aslesser number may be used and the resulting structure will still fallwithin the spirit and scope of this invention. It is also to beappreciated that the relative sizes and spacing of the fingers may bevaried to suit different types of hair and hair styling techniques.

It is also a significant factor in the success of my invention that theconcavity 37 is so formed on the body 25, and is of such contour tofacilitate the placement of the device against the forehead or otherpart of the head of the individual whose hair is being curled. Since thebody 25 is applied to the forehead of the individual, in positionextending in a plane substantially normal to a line extending from thenose to the back of the head, it will be evident that the properapplication of the device to the head is facilitated by making thecurvature producing the concavity 37 in more or less conformity to thecurvature of the forehead of the person being worked upon.

In use, the body 25 with the radially projecting pairs of hairsupporting fingers 31, is applied to the forehead with the concavity 37in contact therewith and generally conforming to the curvature of theforehead. The body 25 is applied to the forehead in positionthereagainst extending across the forehead or, as stated above, in aplane substantially normal to a line extending from the nose to the backof the head, and the device is positioned with the body 25 thereofdisposed as described so that the hair supporting fingers 31 extend intothe hair, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In thisfigure the body 25 is applied to the forehead in the manner as explainedand with the fingers 31 projecting rearwardly into the hair which inthis figure I have designated by the numeral 39'. The body is moved upthe forehead to the edge of the hair line so that the fingers 31 projectsubstantially their entire length into the hair. With the device sopositioned the hair 39' is brought up between each pair of fingers 31 sothat it extends from the scalp in substantially perpendicular relationthereto instead of being tangentially related thereto, as in the priorart, and as particularly illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the hair is positioned in this substantially perpendicularrelationship relative to the scalp and extends upwardly between thepairs of fingers as disclosed in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it is thenbrought over the tops 41 of the uppermost fingers 33 of the pairs offingers, being pulled or guided in a direction toward the small ornarrow end 29 of the body 25, as particularly shown in FIG. 5 of thedrawings. With the hair extending over the tops 41 of the particularfingers 33 and extending thereover in a direction towards the small endof the body, it will be understood that each strand of hair extends fromthe scalp to the tops of the fingers in substantially perpendicularrelation with respect to the scalp. When the hair has been so arrangedand positioned it is then wound about the body 25 at substantially a 45degree angle toward the smaller and narrow end of the elongated, taperedand curved body 25, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.When the hair has been wound as described, it is then clamped in woundposition on the body 25 by means of any suitable and conventionalclamping means 43 which is fixed to the protuberance 39 and extends overand under the body 25 and through the notch 37 as is shown particularlyin FIG. 5 of the drawings.

As I have stated the body 25 provides a styling surface for the curlsand this provides an excellent means for finalizing the depth of thecurl desired so that it is not necessary with the use of my devices tohave equal size curls as are provided by the prior art. This favorablefeature will be understood clearly by one skilled in the art since thediameter of the bodies may be varied to provide curls of differentsizes, and such variation of the size of the bodies may be done withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this apparatus and the method ofpracticing the hair curling and styling.

With respect to the fingers these are shown as being at least of alength equal to the depth of the body portion from which the fingerextends, however it is within my contemplation that they may be of anylength from a stub to as long as is necessary to accommodate theoperators skill in use.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings I have illustrated the application of thecurlers, not only to the top of the head but also to the sides of thehead to set and curl the hair at both sides of the head. I havedesignated the hair setting and curling device which is used on the leftside of the head generally by the numeral 45 and I have designated inits entirety the hair setting and curling device for the right side ofthe head by the numeral 45. Each of the hair setting and curling devices45 and 45' includes the body member or styling surface 25, the samearrangement of fingers 31 as has already been described. It will beunderstood that in the hair setting and curling devices 45 and 45' thefingers project from each body adjacent to but circumferentially removedfrom the concavity 37, it being apparent, in order to have the fingers31 on the hair setting and curling devices 45 and 45' extend rearwardlyinto the hair that the device for one side of the head would have thefingers project from one surface of the body while the fingers of thedevice for the other side of the head will project from the oppositesurface of the body. It is to be understood, and is clear from thedrawings, that the bodies 45 and 45' are of elongated, tapering andcurved configuration, however the degree of curvature may be varied inorder to conform to the curvature at the side of the head, and it isalso to be appreciated that it is within my contemplation to eliminatethe curved configuration of these side head curlers for certainapplications thereof.

When the hair has been wound as described in connection with FIG. 6 ofthe drawings the same procedure is followed as has been explained inconnection with the prior figures. For it is then clamped in woundposition on each body 25 by means of any suitable and conventionalclamping means 43 which is fixed to the protuberance 39 on each body andextends over and under each body 25 and through each notch 37.

In the use of these curlers for the sides of the head, the curler 45 ispositioned as shown in FIG. 6 with the fingers extending substantiallyhorizontally from the front to the back of the head, and the hair ispulled from the scalp outwardly and through the fingers and then isguided on and over the tops 41 of the fingers 33, and then is woundabout the body 25 in generally the same manner as has been described inconnection with the curler for use on the forehead or top of the head.The right hand curler 45' is placed in position on the right side of thehead with the fingers 31 extending substantially horizontally, or fromfront to rear of the head, and the left hand curler 45 is placed inposition on the left side of the head with the fingers 31 extendingsubstantially horizontally, or from front to rear of the head. It willfurther be apprecia'ted that the right and left hand configurations ofcurlers 45 and 45' will be placed in successive positions from the frontof the head to the back of the head, the curved axis of each series ofcurlers being in successive vertical planes parallel to the plane of theface.

In the arrangement of hair on and extending over the tops of the fingersand about the body, it is desirable to thread a small amount of hairthrough the area 35 between some or all of the fingers 33, as this willhelp to keep the curler body fitted more securely or snugly to the head.It also should be pointed out with respect to the curler which is usedfor the forehead or the top of the head that some of the hair may alsobe threaded, in this instance, through the areas 35.

It is to be recognized that one, from among many, of the desirablecharacteristics of my curler having the fingers extending from the bodythereof, is to permit the hair behind the main body to dry substantiallyperpendicular to the scalp and to eliminate the necessity of having touse and apply another curler directly behind the curler of thisinvention. This would be necessary if the curling device of thisinvention was not provided with the hair supporting fingers. It will beobvious that there are many disadvantages inherent in having to use afurther curler.

It is to be recognized also that a previous hairdo from the day beforehaving waves combed in that are suitable to my invention can bepreserved by inserting my curler into said waves and secured with a hairnet as for sleeping. The curvature of my invention and the supportgained from the fingers will give support to a large area against theside of the head which will serve as a cushion and not disturb the wavesbeing preserved for longer life of the hair style.

I claim:

1. A hair setting and styling device, comprising a substantially-rigidelongated, generally cylindrical tapered body, providing a hair stylingsurface, hair supporting and guiding means fixed to and radiallyprojecting from said body and relatively immovable with respect theretoand adapted to be inserted in the hair to cause it to extendsubstantially perpendicularly from the scalp prior to being wound on andpressed against said body, said hair supporting and guiding meanscomprising two circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally extendingrows of rigid fingers, the fingers in each row being longitudinallyspaced apart and in curved alignment, and the circumferentially adjacentfingers being in circumferential alignment, and means on said body forclamping the hair in woundposition thereon.

2. A hair setting and styling device comprising an elongated generallycylindrical tapered body, providing a hair styling surface, hairsupporting and guiding means fixed to and radially projecting from saidbody and adapted to be inserted in the hair to cause it to extendsubstantially perpendicularly from the scalp prior to being wound on andpressed against said body, and said body is curved providing a concavityin said body and said hair supporting and guiding means project fromsaid body adjacent to but circumferentially removed from said concavity,and means on said body for clamping the hair in wound position thereon.

3. A hair setting and styling device in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe upper edge of each finger which is remote from the concavityprovides a hair supporting surface.

4. A hair setting and styling device in accordance with claim 2, whereinsaid fingers are arranged in pairs and the fingers of each pair arecircumferentially spaced apart and in alignment, and the edge of onefinger of each of said pairs of fingers which is remote from saidconcavity provides a hair supporting surface, and the edge of the otherfinger of each of said pairs of fingers which is remote from saidconcavity provides a further hair supporting surface.

5. A method of hair setting and styling, comprising those steps ofinserting into the hair a plurality of hair supporting and guiding meanswhich are fixed to and extend from a generally cylindrical body,providing a hair styling body, threading the hair between said pluralityof hair supporting and guiding means in position extending substantiallyvertical with respect to the scalp, then guiding the free hair beyondthose portions of the hair which extend between the hair supporting andguiding means over the edges of said supporting and guiding means indiagonal relationship with said generally cylindrical body and thenwinding said free hair around and pressing it against said generallycylindrical body in a 3,507,291 7 8 direction towards one end thereof,and clamping Said 3,276,456 10/ 1966 Thatcher 132-40 wound and pressedhair to said generally cylindrical body.

' F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner memes ed J. W. MITCHELL, AssistantExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,723,671 11/1955 Amendola 132-7 U.S.Cl. X.R. 2,953,140 9/1960 Goff 132-42 132--42

